My Youth Romantic Comedy Is Wrong As Expected

Page 240

...At that time, this was what I was thinking.

× × ×

Less than an hour later, the person Yukinoshita had mentioned appeared in our clubroom. However, no matter how I looked at him, he seemed quite familiar. To be precise, we had just met this morning.

"Why Komachi...?"

My eyes were lifeless, all my previous excitement and anticipation gone, while Komachi herself stood at the door with a big smile on her face.

"Didn't I just say that she has long taken care of people who are not good enough for their own good, and she knows very well the hardship involved?"

Could that "incompetent person" be referring to me...? Oh well, at least Yukinoshita didn't say "inhuman." By her standards, that was a mild way of putting it; she seems to be in a good mood today.

Yukinoshita briefly explained what had happened to Komachi, who nodded with "uh-huh."

"Well then, please let Komachi take a look at the questionnaires that everyone filled out."

Yukino handed the entire stack of questionnaires to Komachi, who read them one by one, nodding repeatedly.

"...I see. Komachi understands what everyone is more concerned about."

As expected of my sister, her ability to understand quickly and grasp the key points is truly remarkable. She understood the problem in no time.

Putting aside the wooden base, Miura and Kawasaki's answers do reveal their anxieties about their future married life.

Hmm? Ebina? That's not even worth mentioning.

Up to this point, we share the same thoughts as Komachi.

"Well, but we don't know what to do next."

"We can't publish the results of this survey directly... We would be very grateful if you could help us come up with some good ideas."

After listening to what Yuihama and Yukinoshita said, Komachi placed her index finger on her temple and began to circle it.

"Hmm... Ah, Komachi has an idea!"

She had a sudden inspiration and clapped her hands. However, seeing how she was acting so pretentiously, it was really suspicious, and I felt that it couldn't be a good idea... Although I was very uneasy, the other three people were hopeful for Komachi. Komachi raised her index finger and began to explain triumphantly.

"This survey shows that everyone's 'bridal charm' is seriously lacking. Therefore, the first step is to improve our 'bridal charm'!"

What is "bridal degree"...?

"Don't worry about such trivial matters. The point is, let's change our approach and think about how to make everyone look more like brides!"

Komachi naturally ignored my questions and even took it upon herself to change the direction of the project.

After listening to the explanation, Hiratsuka-sensei continued:

"Hmm, it sounds like a bride training program."

"This name is great! Komachi will take it☆"

Komachi pretended to copy notes into her palm, then stood up and announced loudly:

"Alright... the Bride Training Program officially begins now! Let's get right into the heart-pounding 'Bride Showdown'! Yay!"

Yukinoshita, Hiratsuka-sensei, and I all looked at Komachi with surprise, but Yuihama seemed quite interested for some reason and clapped along.

"So what exactly is 'bridal degree'...?"

It seems this question will never be answered.

× × ×

Komachi was in charge of preparing for this "Bride Showdown," so we decided to postpone it to another day.

On the day of the duel, Komachi first gathered everyone in the club office, then took all the girls to a certain place, while I stayed behind to wait for further instructions.

I was left alone in the clubroom, so I had no choice but to find ways to pass the time. Well, I don't mind. Anyway, I've always been good at looking after the classroom for everyone.

I took out my paperback and started reading intently. After a while, my phone suddenly vibrated. It turned out to be a text message from Komachi.

Meet at the home economics classroom? What is she up to? I was puzzled, but I would generally grant my sister's every request.

So I strode out of the community office and headed to the home economics classroom.

The absence of other students in the hallway after school filled me with a sense of peace and tranquility. The usual hustle and bustle fell silent, as if it had never existed.

However, as I approached the home economics classroom, a certain noise became more and more obvious, and I could also hear screams coming from that direction from time to time.

Hey, hey, hey... this will make me afraid to go in...

However, the door to the home economics classroom was already in sight.

I mustered up my courage and opened the door.

The first thing that catches the eye is Komachi wearing an apron.

"Ah, brother's finally here. Okay, let's begin!"

"Start what...?"

Komachi stood with her hands on her hips, striking a bold and upright pose.

"The Bride Training Program officially begins now! Let's get right into the heart-pounding 'Bride Showdown'♪"

After announcing this loudly, she immediately pulled a ladle from behind her back. Oh, you know *Yakkobo* too? (Note 6: Haruto Umezawa's manga. The protagonist, Haruya Hino, often pulls out various items from behind his back.)

Komachi used a ladle as a microphone and turned to the back.

"The first challenge is a cooking competition!"

Behind her appeared Yukinoshita, Yuihama, and Hiratsuka-sensei, all three wearing aprons. Further behind them was a table where two familiar faces sat.

"Then, please appoint yourselves as judges for today's event."

After Komachi's introduction, one of them waved in greeting.

"I have absolutely no idea why I was asked to come here... Good luck everyone!"

"Hmm, these days profound settings are all the rage, and authors have to explain them in detail themselves. No problem! This swordsman general will comply with your wishes and accept this request!"

So it was Totsuka and Zaimokuza. Were they also brought by Komachi?

Before I could figure out what was going on, Komachi pointed to the table.

"Okay~ Brother, please take your seat on the judging panel too~"

It seemed that the three people on stage wearing aprons were going to cook, and then the people sitting at that table would taste the food. Despite having a bad feeling, no matter how much I refused, Komachi would do everything she could to force me to accept, even dragging me up there.

So, I obediently followed Komachi's instructions and sat in the empty seat on the judges' panel.

There were too many doubts about what I was seeing, so I decided to ask about the things that mattered most to me.

"Is it okay to have Totsuka as a judge? Hey, are you sure you want him to be a judge?"

I asked Komachi in a low voice, but she acted as if she hadn't heard me and turned her face to Yuihama. I said, "Don't you think it's a bit much not to answer your own brother's question?"

"The cooking theme is 'The Taste of Mom in a Boy's Eyes.' First up, our first contestant is Yui-san!"

Yui heard her name called and took a step forward. She was carrying a plate covered with a silver lid, a common sight in upscale restaurants.

"What dish did Yui-neechan prepare?"

"Japanese-style hamburger steak!"

Yuihama lifted the lid, generously displaying her signature dish. However, Komachi's reaction was not very enthusiastic.

"...Oh~"

She clearly backed down. There was nothing we could do about it; it wasn't her fault.

What appeared on the plate was a pile of charcoal-like objects, a sticky sauce, and a dark brown radish paste on the side, garnished with fragmented anthracite.

...Japanese? Where's the Japanese style? It looks more like a desolate volcanic area to me, with not a trace of Japanese influence. If you said it was Kilauea volcano in Hawaii, I might actually believe it. Also, please tell me where the burger stand is. Ugh, do we really have to eat this stuff?

I was horrified by the dish in front of me, but when Zai Muza saw that it was made by a girl, he immediately reached out excitedly to grab it.

"Glug glug! Let me try it, let me try it! There's an old saying, 'Never judge a book by its cover.' Beneath this appearance, this dish must be hiding something amazing..."

What the woodworker said sounded very cool at first glance, but unfortunately it wasn't like that at all; it was just a waste of breath.

"Ugh!" The moment he chewed the hamburger steak, it was as if he sensed a divine revelation. A shock ran through his body, and his eyes widened to the extreme.

"Ooh cough!"

The next second, he let out a weak groan like a passerby and collapsed onto the table, motionless.

The entire home economics classroom fell into a deathly silence.

The criminal is among us...

Komachi observed the woodworker for a while, and after confirming that he was unconscious, she quickly looked at me.

"Hmm~ Since the chuunibyou older brother is out, next... it's the older brother's turn."

"what?"

As I pointed to myself, wondering if I had misheard, Yuihama's dish was already being served to me.

"Well……"

Just looking at this appalling dish left me speechless.

That guy Zaimokuza is notoriously annoying for exaggerating his reactions, but seeing him suffer so much firsthand, I just couldn't muster the courage. Seeing me standing there like a statue, Yuihama fiddled with her bun and gave a dry laugh.

"N-It's okay, you don't have to force yourself to eat it..."

She looked at the floor and turned her face away.

To be honest, if I could avoid eating it, I really wouldn't want to force myself. After all, if the unreasonable works, then the reasonable won't.

Even so, I cannot back down now. We should be grateful for the blessings of life; the woodworker has already sacrificed himself, and besides, well… how should I put it… this is a rare opportunity.

Oh, right, and most importantly, I absolutely cannot let Totsuka eat that stuff.

So I focused my attention on Totsuka to bolster my courage.

"What's going on, Hachiman?"

Totsuka, puzzled by my sudden gaze, smiled and asked.

Ah... I want to protect that smile...

At this moment, only I can protect Totsuka's smile! I've decided to force myself, to forget all logic and reason, and put it all aside!

With unwavering determination, I picked up the plate and used my chopsticks to devour the entire hamburger in one go.

Crunch, crunch, crunch... With each chew, the Koshien Stadium, a hellish experience for the taste buds, reaches a climax.

"An autistic man..."

I could feel Yuihama's tearful gaze, but I was on the verge of tears myself, so I couldn't say anything.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, I finally managed to swallow the food.

The entire home economics classroom fell silent again, except for the sound of me putting down my chopsticks.

I took a short breath and slowly opened my mouth:

"Well, how should I put it... if you're prepared and force yourself, it doesn't seem like you can't eat it."

This is no longer a question of how high the "bride's value" is, but rather whether there is a "human value" at all.

"Your comment is so hard to understand!"

Yuihama wailed in anguish. "In that case, please try your best... I've already tried my best."

"But your face is very pale..." Yukinoshita said helplessly.

Next, Komachi stood next to Yukinoshita.

"The second runner-up is Yukino-neechan!"

Urged by Komachi, Yukinoshita also brought out her dish. Her plate was also covered with a silver lid.

"Now, please reveal the name of the dish!"

"I made seafood risotto."

Yukinoshita lifted the lid, revealing a mouthwatering dish. Yuihama, upon seeing it, also exclaimed in admiration.

"Oh, it's Italian cuisine."

"The birthplace of seafood paella is Spain."

"Huh, but I remember Salia having... um?"